Cart

ABSTRACT

A vending cart construction is described as including a base and a rotatable display member upstanding from and rotatably attached to the base. Rotation of the display member is provided by a motor means. The base is mounted on a conventional carriage structure and includes outer and inner walls defining a forward storage space and a motor means storage space. A transparent display cover encircles the display member for the purpose of defining therewith an effectively air-tight display space. A door is included in the display cover to allow access to the display space.

United States Patent [1 1 Rogove et al.

[ 1 Dec. 11, 1973 CART [75] Inventors: Harry Rogove; Roslyn Rogove, bothof Bayside, NY.

[73] Assignee: Remember When Sweet Shop, Inc.,

Valley Stream, NY.

122] Filed; Aug. 30, I972 [2]] Appl. No.: 285,089

[52] U.S. Cl. 296/21, 40/30 [51] Int. Cl B60p 3/02 [58] Field of Search296/21, 22, 23

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Vogel 296/21 PrimaryExaminer-Philip Goodman Attorney-Stanley J. Yavner [57] ABSTRACT Avending cart construction is described as including a base and arotatable display member upstanding from and rotatably attached to thebase. Rotation of the display member is provided by a motor means. Thebase is mounted on a conventional carriage structure and includes outerand inner walls defining a forward storage space and a motor meansstorage space. A transparent display cover encircles the display memberfor the purpose of defining therewith an effectively airtight displayspace. A door is included in the display cover to allow access to thedisplay space.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 1 1 I975 SHEET 2 W 2 CART Thisinvention relates primarily to display constructions and moreparticularly to portable and rotatable display carts for displaying andvending perishable items such as foodstuffs.

One of the most effective vending schemes in use today is the portablefoodstuffs vending business, whereby a small cart or the like is used totransport and dispense foodstuffs such as hot dogs or more exotic foodsto the public. Most such vending carts include a three-wheel carriagesystem and means for storing the foodstuffs in the main body member ofthe cart. However, such carts are usually unattractive and sufferfurther from the disadvantage'of the impossibility of displaying thefoodstuffs sold. The buying public usually observes the foodstuffs onlyafter it has been ordered and paid for. With todays emphasis on consumerprotection, it is especially important to properly display the food tothe public during their consideration of whether or not to purchase theitem.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide anattractive vending cart whose construction affords an opportunity forobservation of the product prior to sale.

A further and more particular object is to provide a vending cartconstruction which not only displays the foodstuffs sold, but providesthe function of protecting the vended items from spoilage and dustduring display.

A still further object is to provide a vending cart which affords threehundred sixty degree rotatable display of the foodstuffs sold from anyparticular vantage point around the cart.

These and other objects are accomplished in one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention which features a vending cart constructed toprovide rotatable display by use of a source of power and a rotatabledisplay member. The venting cart includes a base member which is mountedupon a carriage structure for transportation of the cart and hasupstanding therefrom a rotatable display member operated by connectionto motor means within the base member. The rotatable display member ismounted within a display member cover which encircles the display memberand is transparent for viewing the items mounted therein on the displaymember. The display member cover is fixed with respect to the basemember and provides a total enclosure in cooperation with the basemember such that foodstuffs and the like mounted therewithin areprotected against the elements and in one embodiment of the inventionprovides insulation for such foodstuffs. The display member coverfurther includes a door or the like for providing'access to thedisplayed foodstuffs.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a preferred, butnonetheless illustrative embodiment, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective view of a vending cart accordingtothe present invention showing particularly the exterior constructionthereof and the rotatable display member within a transparent displaymember cover;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof taken along the line 2-2 of FIG.1 and showing particularly the mounting and construction of therotatable display member and the motor means for driving the displaymember;

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view thereof taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.2 and showing particularly the cover door included within the displaymember cover for providing access to the display member; and

FIG. 4 is a partial, top sectional view of the motor means space definedby the base member and the motor means located therewithin.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a vending cartis shown as including a base member, generally designated 10 mountedupon a carriage structure, generally designated 12. The base memberincludes side walls 14, a front wall 16 and a back wall 18. Base member10 further includes a top wall 20 and a bottom wall 22 which define withsaid side, front and back walls, a base member storage space generallydesignated 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The aforementioned outer walls 14,16, 20 and 22 are used in conjunction with an inner wall 26 to define aforward storage space 24' (FIG. 2) within the base member 10.

Carriage structure 12 is mounted below base member 10 by means of struts28, 30. Struts 28 are fixedly attached to bottom wall 22 of base member10 so that an axle 32 therethrough provides a mounting means for wheels34.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, strut 30 is attached to bottom wall22 of base member 10 by rivet 36 or the like, which, with washers 38,provides a rotatable adjustment of a forward single wheel 40.

Thus, by use of wheel 40 and a forward handle 42 affixed to side walls14 of the base member 10, the vending cart may be pushed and pulled in amultitude of directions.

Furthermore, as with conventional carts, the storage space 24 defined bythe outer walls of base member 10 is accessible by means of forwardsliding doors 44 and rear sliding doors 46. More particularly, forwardsliding doors 44 provide access to forward storage space 24 and rearsliding doors 46 provide access to a motor means storage space 24" whichencloses motor means, generally designated 50. Motor means 50 will bedescribed hereinafter both by reference to its construction and functionwith respect to driving a rotatable display member, generally designated60, which will now be described by reference to all of the figures ofthe drawings.

Display member 60 includes a display base 62 including upstanding pegs64 and a lower display member piece 66, defining lower mounting holes 68for mating with pegs 64. Thus, lower display member piece 66 is fixedlyattached to display base 62 for rotation. Furthermore, top surface 70,defined by lower display member piece 66 is usable as a display surfacefor food container 72 or the like.

Other display member pieces 66 are mounted in the same manner to providemultiple display surfaces, with each display member piece 66' includingand defining lower holes 68' for mating with upstanding pegs 64'protruding from the next lower display member piece 66.

For balance or aesthetic considerations, the diameter of circulardisplay surface 70' of an upper display member piece 66' is made lessthan the diameter of the lower display surface 70. Conversely, alldisplay surface diameters 70, 70', may be of the same diameter and/or ofa shape other than circular.

Rotation of display member 60, as previously mentioned, is provided bymotor means 50 which includes bushings 52 fixedly attached to displaybase 62 and further connected by shaft 54 to pulley 56, said bushings,shaft and pulley comprising a drive member for the motor means. Themotor means 50 further includes a motor 58, a gear box 57 and a belt 59for connecting the motor 58 through gear box 57 to the drive member ofmotor means 50.

More specifically, gear box 57 is of conventional design to provide areduced rotation of display member 60 with respect to rotation of motor58.

Motor 58 is manually operated by means of switch 80, connected betweenmotor 58 and a source of power (not shown) by power source connection82. Switch 80 may be of the conventional toggle switch type wherebymotion of handle 80' in one direction energizes and operates motor 58,whereas motion of the switch handle 80' in another direction causesmotor 58 to cease operation. I

Surrounding and enclosing display member 60 is a display member covergenerally designated 90, which includes display member cover base 92defining grooves for mounting transparent cover 94 in anupstandingorientation with respect to base member 10. Transparent cover94 may be further braced and supported by upstanding braces 96. A topcover member, generally designated 98, is provided in the constructionof cover member 90 and includes a decorative cover top member 98' and atransparent cover top member 98".

Thus, with the slight exception of clearance space 100 (FIG. 2) betweenrotating display base 62 and display member cover base 92, the enclosurefor display member 60 is effectively air-tight and thus preservative ofany foodstuffs or the like located and displayed therewithin.Furthermore, dust and other harmful environmental effects such asweather are kept from the displayed products of the vending cart.

Decorative value is added to the vending cart by means of canopy 110which is mounted upon canopy struts 112 fixed to the top of displaycover member 90. Canopy 110 also provides the function of blocking outdirect sunlight from foodstuffs 72 displayed within the vending cart.

In order to provide a more thorough understanding of the construction ofa vending cart according to the present invention, a brief descriptionof the operation and use thereof will now be provided: A vendor moveshis vending cart to a desired location by pushing the cart with handle42. Carriage structure 12 is used both to support and transport thevending cart by means of two large rear wheels 34 which are rotatable inone plane only. Forward wheel 40 is used for turning the cart by meansof rivet 36 which both mounts and makes laterally rotatable the forwardwheel assembly.

Upon reaching the desired vending location, the vendor throws toggleswitch handle 80' to commence operation of motor 58. Motor 58 can beconnected by power source connection 82 to either a battery or to a morepermanent power source if it is available at the location. If a batteryis the power source used, motor operation can be initiated even whilethe vending cart is in transit.

Upon initiation of motor operation, by means of gear reduction box 57,display means 60 are caused to rotate at a rotational speed less thanthat of motor 58.

Foodstuffs 72 are thus displayed to a purchaser fixed with respect tothe vending cart. In other words, the prospective purchaser obtains athree hundred sixty degree view of all foodstuffs mounted anywhere ondisplay surfaces 70,

When a purchaser makes his choice, the vendor obtains access tofoodstuffs 72 by means of cover door 114 which slides along track 114'defined by display member cover base 92.

Replenishment of the displayed foodstuffs 72 is accomplished by use offorward storage space 24' where a stock of replenishment items arestored. The rear storage space 24" is used, as previously described, tohouse motor means 50 and doors 46 are operable to obtain access to motormeans 50 for purposes of replacement, repair or adjustment of all or apart of the motor means.

What is claimed is:

l. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a basemember, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereofrelative to the ground support for said cart, a display memberupstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, andmotor means connected to said source of power and said display member,arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, saiddisplay member including a plurality of removable display member pieces,each defining display surfaces, said display member pieces each definingbottom surfaces and upstanding pegs protruding from one of saidsurfaces, said other surface defining mating peg holes forinterconnection of said display member pieces.

2. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a basemember, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereofrelative to the ground support for said cart, a display memberupstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, andmotor means connected to said source of power and said display member,arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, saidmotor means including a drive member fixed with respect to said displaymember and further including a gear box, a motor and a belt adapted andarranged to rotate said drive member, said motor being connected to asource of power for driving said gear box and imparting reduced rotativemotion to said belt which is connected to said drive member, said motormeans including switch means connected to said motor and said source ofpower for selectively causing rotating motion of said display member.

3. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a basemember, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereofrelative to the ground support for said cart, a display memberupstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, andmotor means connected to said source of power and said display member,arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, saidvending cart further including a display member cover encircling saiddisplay member and upstanding and fixed with respect to said basemember, said display member cover including a display member cover topwhich with the balance of said display member cover and said displaymember provides an effectively air-tight display space definedtherewithin.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said display member coverincludes a track and a cover ground support for said cart, a displaymember upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto,and motor means connected to said source of power and said displaymember, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member,said base member including outer walls and an inner wall to definetherewithin a storage space.

1. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said display member including a plurality of removable display member pieces, each defining display surfaces, said display member pieces each defining bottom surfaces and upstanding pegs protruding from one of said surfaces, said other surface defining mating peg holes for interconnection of said display member pieces.
 2. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said motor means including a drive member fixed with respect to said display member and further including a gear box, a motor and a belt adapted and arranged to rotate said drive member, said motor being connected to a source of power for driving said gear box and imparting reduced rotative motion to said belt which is connected to said drive member, said motor means including switch means connected to said motor and said source of power for selectively causing rotating motion of said display member.
 3. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said vending cart further including a display member cover encircling said display member and upstanding and fixed with respect to said base member, said display member cover including a display member cover top which with the balance of said display member cover and said display member provides an effectively air-tight display space defined therewithin.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said display member cover includes a track and a cover door, said cover door slidably mating with said track to provide an access capability for said display space.
 5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said display member cover is constructed and arranged to provide insulation for said display space.
 6. A vending cart for operation by a source of power comprising a base member, means mounting said base member for imparting motion thereof relative to the ground support for said cart, a display member upstanding from said base member and rotatable relative thereto, and motor means connected to said source of power and said display member, arranged and adapted to cause rotation of said display member, said base member including outer walls and an inner wall to define therewithin a storage space. 